"Dibango Dibanga" By Bello Falcao (YouTube Official Video, Two TikTok Compilations, & partial English translation)

BelloFalcaoVEVO, May 20, 2022  
-snip-
Total # of views as of August 15, 2022 at 9:40 AM ET = 6,714,128.

This video does an excellent job of following the song's lyrics.

Here's an explanation for this song from this discussion thread:

Nio_pochita👺, August 2022
"The lyrics are talking about a boy who love to make music and everyone like his music old, young, kids, woman,man ect except a pretty woman that doesn't so he's doing everything to make this one girl like it".

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases the official YouTube video of the Ivory Coast dance song "Dibango Dibanga" by Bello Falcao. This post also showcases two TikTok compilations of that song.

In addition, this pancocojams post also presents the original lyrics for "Dibango Dibanga" as well as a partial English translation of this song's lyrics.

A few comments from the discussion thread of that song's official YouTube video are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Bello Falcao and all those who are associated with this song and its official YouTube video. Thanks also to all those who are featured in the TikTok compilations that are included in this post and thanks to their publishers on YouTube.Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Dibango Dibanga - BEST TikTok Challenge Dance Compilation

Billyman, May 22, 2022
-snip-
The tempo for this Tikok of this Ivory Coast dance song [and the one given immediately below] is faster than the original tempo of that song. ****
SHOWCASE VIDEO #3: Bello Falcao - Dibango Dibanga 😍 (Tiktok Compilation)

Festival TikTok, June 1, 2022

****
LYRICS - DIBANGO DIBANGA

(written and performed by Bello Falcao)

Eeehhh yaaa
C'est le bello falcao
Je vais me proo

Allez bouger le dibango, dibango, dibango
Allez danser le dibanga, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango
Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga
Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga, dibanga

Je vous avais dit au départ c'est l'histoire du ptit Moustapha
Qui fait danser les mamans, les papas d'Abidjan Paris jusqu'à Dakar
Mais y a cette jolie fille qui n'écoute jamais sa musique
Y a cette jolie fille qui n'écoute pas sa musique

Allez bouger le dibango, dibango, dibango
Allez danser le dibanga, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango

Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga
Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga, dibanga

Je dis Moustapha ne dors pas à cause de la petite qui ne danse pas
Il a même casser sa guitare ahhh!!

Il a fait des mélodies mais la petite ne veut pas danser
Il a fait des mélodies mais la petite ne veut pas danser

Allez bouger le dibango, dibango, dibango
Allez danser le dibanga, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango
Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga
Venez danser le dibango, venez danser le dibanga, dibanga

Aya yaa la go m'a protégé ayaya la go m'a protégé
C'est le diban- dobanga, dibango-banga baa gobanga
Dibango dibanga pardon faut pas dire à ton gars keh
Gnaga tu es mousso pour un gars parce qu'il a doungba dibanga
On demande c'est l'enfant de qui ça? La go est ta mousso ou ta tchiza?
Ce sont les piki-kimin qui enjaille ça onhh
Oun ka ta kretete kouta kouta

On descend à gauche dibango
Allons à droite dibanga
On avance ensemble dibango
A chacun sa cible
C'est pour danser le dibango
Venez danser le dibango
Tout le monde dibango dibanga
Dibango et puis dibanga

Aya yaa

-snip-
These lyrics are found several times in the official YouTube discussion thread for the "Dibango Dibanga" video. This comment was posted by k3r!ck, July 2022

****
PARTIAL ENGLISH TRANSLATION - DIBANGO DIBANGA
(written by Bello Falcao)

Eeehhh yaaa
It's the Bello Falcao
I'm gonna upgrade

Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga

At the begining, I told you that it was the story of lil Moustapha
Who makes mothers, fathers dance from Abidjan, Paris to Dakar
But but there is this pretty girl who never listens to his music
There is this pretty girl who doesn't listen to his music

Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga

I say Moustapha doesn't sleep because of the girl who doesn't dance
he even broke his guitar ahhh!!
I created songs but the girl doesn't want to dance
I created songs but the girl doesn't want to dance

Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, dibango, dibango
Dibango, dibanga, dibango, dibanga
Dibango, dibanga, dibango
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga
Come on dance the dibango, come on, dance the dibanga

Aya yaa the girl protected me ayaya the girl protected me
It's the diban- dobanga, dibango-banga baa gobanga
Dibango dibanga, please don't tell to your guy that
Gnaga you are mousso for a guy because he has doungba dibanga
We ask whose child is this ? The girl is your mousso or your tchiza?
These ones are piki-kimin who bring fun onhh
Oun ka ta kretete kouta kouta

We oo down to the left dibango
We go to the right dibanga
We move forward together dibango
To each his own target
It's for dancing the dibango

Come on dance the dibango
Everybody dibango dibanga
Dibango then dibanga

-from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSOBnmOjX7A, Dibango Dibanga Lyrics [comment] posted by Charlee Mack, August 2022
-snip-
This is the same translation of the Ivory Coast song "Dibango Dibanga" that is given by Google translate, except that Google translate didn't give any results for the last word in the third line of this song and didn't give any results for the word "enjaille". 

The words that have no results for Google translate French to English aren't from the French language. My guess is that these words are from Nouchi. An excerpt from a pdf about Nouchi is found in the discussion thread for this pancocojams post.

Please help give the complete English language translation for this song.

What language/languages are the words that weren't translated by Google translate from French to English? What do those words mean and were the English words that Google translate gave correct?  

Additions and corrections are very welcome.

**
Here are definitions for two words in that song that weren't translated by Google translate. Those words may be from Nouchi.

Enjaille/enjailment 
Google translate didn't give an English translation for the word "enjail". 
Here are two definitiond for that word:

https://definedictionarymeaning.com/topic/132650/enjaillement

Tina Feb 15, 2020
"West African version of [enjoyment] - involving [African food], [African music] and/or alcohol

 Having a good time, typically at a gathering (friends and/or family"

 **
https://hinative.com/questions/416040
"Question about French (France)

What does enjaillement mean?

leleah, 6 May 2016

 French (France)

The feeling of joy. (but it's like old school-ish). It comes from the English "enjoyment" "

**
tchiza = mistress 
from https://www-africatopsuccess-com.translate.goog/tchiza-le-fleau-qui-arrange-et-derange-en-afrique-centrale/?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

-snip-
Since "tchiza" means "mistress", my guess is that "mousso" means "wife".

Also, my guess is that "piki-kimin" means "children" (since "pickaninny" is a West Indian term for child/children).

****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THIS SONG'S OFFICIAL VIDEO 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJo58QN5Mik

Most of the comments in this discussion thread are written in French. Google translate results from French to English are given after those comments.

All of these comments are from May 2022 to August 14, 2022.

These comments are presented in chronological order with the oldest comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

June 2022

1. Cornelia Grace Idongo Ngombi
"J'ai connue le song sur tiktok et je suis venus ici l'écouter entièrement, mais c'est du lourd bravo à l'artiste le song est propre.

L'Afrique le meilleur continent sur terre, mais les dirigeants le gaspillent."
-snip-
"I knew the song on tiktok and I came here to listen to it entirely, but it's a big congratulations to the artist the song is clean.

Africa the best continent on earth, but the rulers are wasting it."

**
2. Alfred Botomwito
"Ta chanson bouge le Tiktok. Bravo 👏👏"
-snip-
"That song moves on Tiktok. Bravo 👏👏"

**
3. Ifeaka Kenneth
"I don't understand the language but the hit is fire🔥🔥 🥰🥰"

**
Reply
4. patrick Agba
"It's language ivory cost / Abidjan"

**
5. Anglais pour tous MK
"Enfin, après avoir remué Tiktok, le clip est enfin disponible. Bonne réalisation l'artiste, courage à toi💪"
-snip-
"Finally, after stirring Tiktok, the clip is finally available. Good achievement the artist, courage to you 💪"

**
6. Fanny Issouf
"Fréro

Ta un pur talent 🙏🤗

la côte d'ivoire 🇨🇮 est fière de toi"
-snip-
"Brother

Your a pure talent 🙏🤗

the ivory coast 🇨🇮 is proud of you"

**
7. Jurgen Prince
"Incroyable 🥳🥳🤙 1 millions de vues en 9 jours..Un vrai tube pour l'été 🔥
-snip-
"Incredible 🥳🥳🤙 1 million views in 9 days.. A real hit for the summer 🔥"

**
8. Moubarak Tchagaou
"J’ai eu une pensée à ce géant, cette légende de la musique africaine, Manu Dibango rip Papa🤍"
-snip-
"I had a thought of this giant, this legend of African music, Manu Dibango rip Papa🤍"
-snip-
From reading the comments in this discussion thread and the Google translate result for this song, it appears that the title "Dibango Dibanga" refer to a particular social dance. That song's singer Bello Falcao may have created this dance and given it that name in honor of the last name of the very popular Cameroonian singer/composer Manu Dibango. Here's some information about Manu Dibango from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Dibango
"Emmanuel N'Djoké "Manu" Dibango (12 December 1933 – 24 March 2020)[2] was a Cameroonian musician and songwriter who played saxophone and vibraphone. He developed a musical style fusing jazz, funk, and traditional Cameroonian music. His father was a member of the Yabassi ethnic group, while his mother was a Duala. He was best known for his 1972 single "Soul Makossa". He died from COVID-19 on 24 March 2020.[3][4]"

**
9. jacques tchohou
"Coupé décalé à l'ancienne, C'est le Dibango banga Dibango banga, bango banga... 🔥🔥🔥...
-snip-
"It's the [classic] Coupé décalé .  It's the Dibango fear Dibango fear, they fear... 🔥🔥🔥."
-snip-
Google translate incorrectly translates the Coupé décalé music/dance as "cut off" and gave "Cut off to the old one" as the result for the first part of that comment.

Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup%C3%A9-d%C3%A9cal%C3%A9 for information about Coupé décalé .
-snip-
In the context of this comment, the word "fear" may mean something like "in awe of" and/or "really respect [because it is so good".

**
10. Gbazou Nicephore Landry
"He is Nigerian but we took him from you and now, he bacame ivoirian 🇨🇮 😂 🤞"

**
11. Yannick GNANMITCHE
"He's not an Ivorian my guy, he's a Haitian."

**
Reply
12. Denis Dro, July 2022
" @Yannick GNANMITCHE  Non c'est un togolais d'origine nigeriane, vivant en Côte d'Ivoire."
-snip-
"Yannick GNANMITCHE No, he's a Togolese of Nigerian origin, living in Ivory Coast.

**
July 2022

13. Maada Rogers
"I don’t understand French but I love this music !!"

****
August 2022

14. Djoby Tako
"On ne sait pas si c'est le coupé décalé classique, Makossa, afro beat, mais c'est tout un mélange d'animation saint et surtout sans filtre. C'est la dimension du hit. Rien à dire!!! 

<<C'est le Dibango banga Dibango banga bango banga

(Dibango dibanga) pardon faut pas dire à ton gars que ...>>"
-snip-
"We don't know if it's the classic coupé décalé* ,  Makossa, afro beat, but it's a whole mixture of holy animation and above all without filter. This is the size of the hit. Nothing to say!!!

<<It's the Dibango banga Dibango banga bango banga

(Dibango dibanga) sorry, don't tell your guy that...>>
-snip-
*Google translate incorrectly translates coupé décalé as “cut-off”.

**
15. Tania Dominique
"J'suis Camerounaise et j'aime bien le rythme. Bravo aux artistes pour ce beau rythme 💕💕💕

Ça veut dire quoi Dibango chez vous ? Chez nous au Cameroun Dibango est un nom de famille très" répandu.
-snip-
"I'm Cameroonian and I like the rhythm. Congratulations to the artists for this beautiful rhythm 💕💕💕"

What does Dibango mean to you? With us in Cameroon Dibango is a very common surname."
-snip-
That discussion thread has no comments that actually resply to that question. One commenter wrote "It's a legend". That reply might refer to the widely popular Cameroonian singer/composer Manu Dibango.  

**
16. Nimaga Moctar
"Une nouvelle étoile j’espère que nous allons prendre soin de lui !!! J’écoute depuis Paris force à toi jeune frère"
-snip-
"A new star I hope we will take care of him!!! I listen from Paris force to you young brother"

**
17. Lionel Nouketcheussi
"According to DBM TV, this amazing song is from Togo!"

**
Reply
18. PUNABLE
"No he's ivoirien with origin of Nigeria"

**
19. Elodie KOUMBA
"Une tuerie, félicitations 🎊 à Bello Falcao, sans oublier tous les danseurs et danseuses qui ont participé à ce clip ,très belle chorégraphie"
-snip-
"A killing, congratulations 🎊 to Bello Falcao, without forgetting all the dancers who participated in this clip, very beautiful choreography"
-snip-
"A killing"= a form of the African American Vernacular English word "kills" meaning something that (or someone who) does something exceptionally well. That form of "kills" isn't used in the United States. African Americans and other Americans would say "He killed it". 
**
20.Tracy African Melanin Doll
"Am from 🇬🇭🇳🇬Am supporting my cousins 🇨🇮🥰😍"
-snip-
GHNG= Ghana, Nigeria

CI=  Côte d'Ivoire

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Magic System (Ivory Coast Band) - Premier Gauo (1er Gauo) Video & Comments

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series on the song "1er Gaou" (also known as Premier Gaou") by Cote d Ivorian group Magic System.

Part II presents the same video of "1er Gaou" that was showcased in Part I and presents selected comments from that video's YouTube discussion thread.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/03/magic-system-cote-divoire-band-1er-gaou.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents information about the Ivorian Creole language "Nouchi", the language that is used for this song. This post also provides information about the song "1er Gaou" and showcases a video of that song. The Nouchi lyrics for "ier Gaou"' are included in this post along with their English translation.

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Magic Systems for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video and this sound file on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT "1er GAOU" ("PREMIER GAOU")
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1er_Gaou
" "1er Gaou" is a song by Ivorian Zouglou artists Magic System, taken from the album of the same name. The title literally means "First Fool" in Ivorian slang. The song contains an autobiographical account of lead singer Salif "A'Salfo" Traoré about his ex-girlfriend who tried to hook up with him again when he became famous. Originally recorded in 1999, it became smash indie hit in France three years later. The song meant the breakthrough of little-known Magic System.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Magic System - Premiere Gaou



ahnd Uploaded on Dec 17, 2006

music video
-snip-
There are other several videos and sound files of this song on YouTube. Most of the comments in some of those discussion threads are in French.

Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread that focus on the song "Premier Gauo" and this video. Numbers are assigned for referencing purposes only.

2010
1. mikaylarosa
"i love dis song!! dey play it everywhere..from the caribbean to the Afrcan countries.."

**
2. M. Stroud
"The dance they hit at 3:00 and 3:06 is HOT! It's like the best moves you can hit for this type of music."

**
3. AALBEREZANCHI
"would really like a translation of what they are saying. what language is it ?"

**
Reply
4. Colombe D6
"@AALBEREZANCHI

du dioula et noushi (argot ivoirien)"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"Of dioula and noushi (Ivorian slang)"

****
2011
5. Ruthhxo
"Once you hear this song at an african party, EVERYBODYS on the dancefloor. Lls #TeamAfrican"

**
6. Andy Gussie
"I like this song it takes me back 11 years. It brings back so much good memories. We played this allot in the Caribbean islands, especially the French ones."

**
7. ifebarbz07
"Love this tune, played at my wedding 7 years ago, but only the parents knew what the name was!! Love it, such a classic tune!!"

**
8. AmyGrl595
"it's not a true african party if this song is not played (:"

**
9. muffinpookieful
"oh my lawd, the memories from this song. haha, good times man."

**
10. Kpopluvr94
"this and MY MOTHA SWEET MOTHA are the african party jams."

****
2012
11. Ivory King
"this song is from la cote d'ivoire(Ivory coast) its not nigerian"

**
12. rotawo
"we know we are just showing how much Nigerians love the song"

**
13. Adaobi M. Okonkwo
"IF THEY DONT PLAY THIS JAM, THE JOLLOF WILL NOT DIGEST PROPER!!"

**
14. Dai Z
"It's about an aspiring artist whose girlfriend left him because he was broke. after his hard work finally pays off, she wants him back. He knows that he was not a gaou (a foolish man) the first time by letting her go, but if he takes her back now, he will be a gaou.."

**
15. Dai Z
"It's French with Ivorian "slang" (for lack of a better word)..."

**
Reply
16. rianna richards
"Its not in french..."

**
Reply
17. S.E.M Asantehene
"Not really, its mix of Ivorian languages, slang and french :P"

**
18. Africanbomba
"How to spot an African in a crowd: Play this song and watch for the headbobs and smiles. This is def one of the greatest African tunes.....from Ghana with love :)"

**
19. warsaminho
"At 1:06 you see a young Booba entering the club :-). Footballer Olivier Kapo also in the clip !!"
-snip-
Booba - a French rapper of African descent; "footballer" = [American term] soccer player

****
2013
20. Elijah Smith
"He's talking about this woman Antou. They were together but she left him when he ran out of money and got with someone else. Then he breaks through, she comes back to him and then finally leaves her. The chorus is saying something to the effect of "fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me""

**
21. NappyHappyDrumMajor
"THIS SONG GOOO HARD IN DA PARTIES!!!!"

****
2014
22. Sonny Higham
"African Song Hall of Fame right here"

**
23. Jasmine Mutunga
"I'm from kenya and when I was a kid I would hear this song at every wedding, fundraiser, party, etc and since I didn't know swahili I always just assumed they were just singing in swahili lol. such a nice song... brings back so many childhood memories... much love. x"

**
24. Zuri Ten
"Dare I say ...best African pop song loved all over the continent and even half the people have no idea what its about....."

**
25. Siyomnqoba Xolo
"A house version of this track was famous in South Africa about 12 years ago"

**
26. Mokgatla Molepo, 2016
"I first heard this song on Dj Oskido (South Africa) album more than 14 years ago"

**
27. MsPrincessaj
"Wow. When I was in South Africa ten years ago, I bought a dj Oskido CD and shared it with my friends back in Washington, DC"

**
28. Zabu Ramafikeng, 2017
"This is the kind of ish that makes me african......... Oskido had a remix of this song on Oskido's church grooves the 2nd commandment its out of this world...... All the love from south africa...."
-snip-
For the sake of continuity, I put these three comments after the comment about "Premier Gaou" being included in a South African house music album.

**
29. Larissa
"No matter where you're from in Africa, this song is a household song. I'm Zambian and this song is played at every function. I love it."

**
30. FranandSofia
"Just to make it clear this song is an Ivorian song (from Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire). This song is not from Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, and or Ghana. I know this because my mother is from there, and also all the group members are from there."

**
Reply
31. KingEvoTheDon
"Why does it matter?, if you're African and you enjoy the song just enjoy the song. No disrepct"

**
32. oppqt1, 2015
"+FranandSofia I join everybody else with the same comment, does it matter? Not at all. This song is waaaaaaaaaaaay above these type of divisive sh&t*. It's an African son[g], as an African, love it and proud of the work done by Magic System. Thanks and congrats forever..."
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
33. Chocolate Sauce
"I'm of Nigerian descent, I don't even understand the words to the song.. But since it's played constantly at African parties I have grown fond of it."

**
Reply
34. jiggar22
"This guys are from Abidjan, from ivory coast but this song was a big hit here in Lagos, Nigeria."

**
Reply
35. stomy bugsy
"+Chocolate Sauce they're speaking French this song came out in France in 1999"

**
Reply
36. stomy bugsy
"You're welcome my friend, i grew up listening to this song in France. It was very popular."

**
Reply
37. Corey Noll
"+stomy bugsy
they're speaking nouchi"

****
2015
38. Nomai B
"If you go to an African party and they don't play this song. Go home! Just take your jollof and go home!😂😂😹"

**
Reply
39. Hyacinth Bucket, 2016
"+Nomai B lol this group is very famous in France,they have a hit every summer"

**
40. Fadjy Valentin
"When I was younger, I heard this at every Haitian party and I've been looking for this song forever and today I came across it. Almost cried"

**
Reply
41. riku marcelin
"+Fadjy Valentin Bruh I heard this everywhere in Haiti!"

****
2016
42. MsPrincessaj
"Sak passé! I lived in Washington, DC when this song came out a they played it at all the African parties. It wasn't until I took a trip to Haiti almost a year after it came out, that I heard it through my hotel window in Petionville one Friday night. I jumped out the bed and started dancing!! Big up to Haiti and the African Diaspora!!"
-snip-
Here's an entry about "sak passe" from
"sak pase
creole(haitian)4 what's happenin.
1st person:sak pase
2nd: map boule(i'm good)"
by christine February 18, 2004

**
43. Psynames Synames
"i dont understand or a word said in this song but i love it. and i dance to it to the fullest kkkk"
-snip-
"kkk" = internet symbols for laughter in Brazil

****
2017
44. Its Ripzz
"im from Mauritius small african island and this was my childhood im 17 now"

**
45. simba sakuhuni
"hahahaha ah I don't even comprehend wat u singing, but we danced to this zimbabwe in the late 90s"

**
46. KordeiNation
"EVERY African knows this song no matter east or west"

****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Three Videos Of Cote d'Ivoire's Coupé Décalé Dancing (With Information About Coupé Décalé)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Cote d'Ivoire's Coupé Décalé music and dance and showcases three videos of Coupé décalé dancing.

Selected comments from the discussion threads of these YouTube videos are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT COUPE DECALE
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup%C3%A9-D%C3%A9cal%C3%A9
"Coupé-Décalé is a type of popular dance music originating from Côte d'Ivoire and the Ivorian diaspora in Paris, France. Drawing heavily from Zouglou and Zouk with African influences, Coupé-Décalé is a very percussive style featuring African samples, deep bass, and repetitive minimalist arrangements.

History
While Coupé-Décalé is known as Côte d'Ivoire's definitive pop music, it actually began in Paris, created by a group of Ivorian DJs at the Atlantis, an African nightclub in northeast Paris.[1][2] These Djs, known as the 'Jet Set', became popular for their flamboyant style, often showing up at the club with large amounts of cash which they would hand out to audiences on the dance floor. Their aesthetic defined the early sounds of Coupé Décalé, apparent in the genre's name. In Nouchi (Ivorian slang), Coupé means "to cheat" and Décalé means to "run away", so Coupé-Décalé basically means to cheat somebody and run away.[1] The 'somebody' cheated is generally interpreted to mean France or the West/Europe, finding parallels to the idea of "The Man" in American culture. Especially in the beginning, the songs often celebrated those who had used guile to 'make it' abroad.

The genre's first hit, "Sagacité" was pioneered by the late Stephane Doukouré (a.k.a. "Douk-Saga"), a member of the 'Jet Set', during the post-2002 militaro-political crisis in Côte d'Ivoire. The hit became a success in African clubs in Paris and spread quickly among disc jockeys in Côte d'Ivoire. According to Siddhartha Mitter of Afropop,

"[Coupé-Décalé ] has become very popular at a time of conflict; in fact, Ivorian music has really for the first time taken over dance floors all over Africa at exactly the same time that Ivory Coast, the country, has been going through this protracted political and military crisis, with debilitating social and economic effects".

Although arising from this time of political turmoil, Coupé-Décalé lyrically addresses topics such as relationships, earning money and maintaining a good mood or 'bonne ambiance'. Much of its lyrics refer to specific dance moves, often referencing current events such as the avian flu dance[3] or Guantanamo (with hand movements imitating hands raised in chains).[4] These global themes could have helped to make Coupé-Décalé so deeply popular across a politically divided Côte d'Ivoire and spread its influence so far across Africa and the diaspora. Increasingly non-Ivorian artists, particularly in the Congo, are beginning to play and incorporate the musical style."...

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SHOWCASE VIDEOS
Example #1: coupé-décalé aladji



Boris Jobs Uploaded on Oct 27, 2006

Superbe coupé décalé
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Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. The comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.

2014
1. S5TM Upsuh
"1 of my favourite songs!! But the thing that pisses me off is that people dnt know where it's from. Noo it's not Nigerian!!! They speak French in parts of the song! It's from Ivory Coast! Cote D'Ivoire!"

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2. Aubain Adi
"This song is from Cote d'Ivoire dude. singer name Jeff BogoloBango song: Alladji. I enjoyed it the time I was playing DJ in clubs in CIV"

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Reply
3. S5TM Upsuh
"+Aubain Adi I feel sorry that nobody knows that Jeff bogolobango actually made this song but everybody thinks it's this silly ramatoulaye guy"

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4. Galaxy Productions
"I think it's from Ghana or Ivory Coast"

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Reply
5. S5TM Upsuh, 2016
"+Galaxy Productions where do u even get ghana from? they don't even speak twi or any ghana language in this"
-snip-
As "Twi" is a Ghanaian language, this corrected comment is "or any [other] Ghanaian language...

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6. Gissela Moya
"very similar to punta from Honduras:) love it!"

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Reply
7. Carter Curtis, 2016
"Gissela Moya yes"

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8. afro izzy
"This song is in HALL OF FAME"

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9.HammadiLobbongel
"Ca c'est la vrai decale-coupe quoi."
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"That's the real [coupe] decale" [Google translate gives "coupe" as "Cut shifted".
However, note that the Wikipedia page on this music/dance indicates that those two words aren't French but "Nouchi (Ivorian slang). The authors of that page indicate that in Nouchi "Coupé means "to cheat" and Décalé means to "run away", so Coupé-Décalé basically means to cheat somebody and run away. The 'somebody' cheated is generally interpreted to mean France or the West/Europe, finding parallels to the idea of "The Man" in American culture." Some information about Nouchi is given below in the comment section for this pancocojams post.

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10. Tracey Mauricé
"Now this is THE REAL Coupé Decalé."

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2016
11. pour la musique
"c'est pas Dj ramatoulay qui chante ça,c'est plutôt Dj jeff bogolobango.."
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"It is not Dj ramatoulay who sings this, it is rather Dj jeff bogolobango .."

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12. Eunice Doe
"wow !! wen coupe was the bomb..now it's mostly Naija music now,everything has time.one Love Africa n God bless"
-snip-
"The bomb" = African American Vernacular English with the same meaning as "hot" [very popular; the very best]

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Example #2: Coupé décalé



blakdes Uploaded on Nov 3, 2009

Congolese Coup e decale dancers
-snip-
A number of commenters corrected the summary statement saying that these dancers were Ivorian and not Congolese.

Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. The comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.

2011
1. Stundtals
"coupe decalé music, kuduro dancing"
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/04/costuleta-tchiriri-kuduro-and-two-other.html for a pancocojams post on Angola's kuduro dancing.

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Reply
2. Efe Bah
"@Stundtals wat is kuduro dancing this is coupe decale dancing or ndombolo"

Ojokernegro5 years ago
It's really different from watching kuduro dancers do their thing (even the beat is different), but when I watched this video I felt the exact same feeling amazement and pride.
This is video is BOSS!! :)

Much love from Angola

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3. DJ Zobe
"damn what is that beat name?"

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Reply
4. kindomofghana
"@Shamoneyxs Its a type of music & dance style, which originated in the Ivory Coast (West Africa). It spread fast to other parts of west & central africa, then to france & belgium through african immigrants & to some parts of the francophone caribbean countries."

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2012
5. murrth
"This dope! Looks great, great vibe, and I love the track too...
Anyone know the title of the song, or some way I can track it down?"

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Reply
6. Frenchy Graham
"the song is couper decaler by zaza twins"

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7. Nathan Nselala4 years ago
that is how we conolase people roll

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8. Patrick Romuald Koffi Alla
"No Yayar101, they r all Ivorians tha live in France I knw some of them"

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9. Lee B
"erm they're IVORIANS NOT CONGOLESE THANKS...."

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Reply
10. Nefritara
"What is the difference? I'm not being a smart ass, just trying to learn."

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Reply
11. Lee B
"The difference is
1. coupe decale is for ivorians not congolese people because ivory coast is where coupe decale comes from
2. the dancers are ivorian not congolese and that's the difference"

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Reply
12. Lee B
"Nah Sorry there isnt 1 single ivorian song in lingala PLS ! why the hell would we want to sing in your language anyways we dance to your music as much as you dance to ours but to say that couper decaler sing in lingala thats not true at all theres nothing wrong with congolese liking our music cause we love their music too the dancers are ivorian because my cousin knows them only one of the boy is congolese the rest of then even the girls are from ivory coast (:"

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Example #3: [COUPE DECALE 2011] OUDY 1ER-ADOKAFLE Yougou Yougou



MrVINCENZO225, Uploaded on Aug 30, 2011
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread. The comments are numbered for referencing purposes only.

2011
1. Destiney Lion
"they kilt it!!"
-snip-
"Kilt it: (killed it) is a African American Vernacular English phrase meaning "[doing something] exceptionally well".

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2. goldennella
"@marza1134 etant congolaise, je trouve que les ivorienne danse bien ausi maintenant avant je trouvai que c'etait juste nous!!"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"Marza1134 being Congolese, I think the Ivorian dance well before now I found it was just us !!"
-snip-
My translation of that comment into standard English:
"Marza1134 being Congolese, I think the Ivorian dance well. Before this [before i saw this] I thought it was just us [Congolese who danced well]!


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2012
[The following comment was written in response to some commenters bickering about which African nation is culturally the best.]

3. Ineka Gbê
"Héé vraiment les commentaires me font rire quoi! "C'est des pas congolais!", "Ivoirien a copier" "Non c'est des pas ivoiriens" (en gros se sont des commentaires de ce genre)et bla bla bla! Avec tous ça là comment l'Afrique va avancé! Ivoirien ô, Congolais ô, c'est pas la même Afrique là?? Vraiment yako pour l'Afrique hein! Quand est-ce qu'on va avancer franchement et apprécier nos richesses culturelles (musique, danse etc) sans se diviser??

Bref bravo les filles! vous gérer!
-snip-
Google translate from French to English
"Hey really comments make me laugh what! "It's Congolese steps!", "Ivorian to copy" "No it's Ivorian steps" (basically have comments like this) and blah blah blah! With all this there how Africa is advanced! Ivorian ô, Congolais ô, it is not the same Africa there ?? Really yako for Africa eh! When will we go forward frankly and appreciate our cultural richness (music, dance etc) without dividing ??

Short bravo the girls! You manage!"
-snip-
"Short bravo the girls! You manage" is probably something like "In brief, Bravo (Congratulations) girls. You rock!"

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[Here's a similar comment in 2013 from that same commenter]:

4. Ineka Gbê
"En quoi dire que les africains doivent s'unir et apprécier les richesses culturelles multiples et diverses de chacun (mais qui sont aussi souvent les mêmes) et donc se respecter pour pouvoir mieux avancer ensemble, est "nul"?"
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"How can we say that Africans must unite and appreciate the multiple and diverse cultural riches of each individual (but who are often the same) and thus respect each other in order to be able to advance together, is "null"?
-snip-
My suggested translation: instead of "is null" = "is nothing"

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2013
5. Efe Bah
"The artist and the dancers are from Guinea thou...but u are right they are doing coupe decale which the ivory coast is known for"

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6. Shantal Joy
"These galz are fire!!!"

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7. Angel Devine
"Im Ghanaian but I've got to admit, if it wasn't for azonto we wouldn't have anything on you Ivorians when it comes to dancing! Smh"

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8. 11rainyday
"good dancing. i LOVE their swagg."
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"Swagg"- an African American Vernacular English term that is a clip of the word "swagger", meaning their self-confidence and their "style" (their "hipness")

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9.Thunder cocolove
"I do not know why the congolai are always jealous of Ivorian ...."

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2014
10. Gedheon
"et les américains découvrent le Twerk ^^'
-snip-
Google translate from French to English:
"And the Americans discover the Twerk ^^ "

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